[Federal Register: February 15, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 31)]
[Notices]
[Page 7418-7419]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15fe07-40]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions
Strategic Plan (FY2008-FY2013)
AGENCY: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce (DOC).
ACTION: Notice of availability and solicitation of public comments on
the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions
Strategic Plan (FY2008-FY2013).
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SUMMARY: NOAA publishes this notice to announce availability of the
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions
Strategic Plan (FY2008-FY2013) for public comment.
DATES: Comments must be received before 11:59 p.m. EDT, March 19, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Electronic submission of comments via e-mail to
nccos.hd@noaa.gov is preferred. Comments may also be sent by fax to
(301) 713-4353 or mail to NOAA National Ocean Service, National Centers
for Coastal Ocean Science, c/o Marybeth Bauer, PhD, 1315 East-West
Highway, NOS HQTR Route N/SCI, Silver Spring, MD 20910. E-mail and fax
comments should state ``Comments'' in the subject line.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marybeth Bauer, Ph.D., by e-mail at
nccos.hd@noaa.gov (preferred) or mail at NOAA National Ocean Service,
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1315 East-West Highway, NOS
HQTR Route N/SCI, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or phone at (301) 713-3020.
E-mail requests for information should state ``Request for
Information'' in the subject line. An electronic copy of the National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Draft Human Dimensions Strategic Plan
(FY2008-FY2013) is available at: http://coastalscience. noaa.gov/human/
strategy/NCCOSDraftHDStrategicPlan.pdf.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science (NCCOS) provides coastal
[[Page 7419]]
resource managers, other decision makers, and stakeholders with the
ecosystem information and tools needed to balance society's
environmental, social, and economic goals in mitigating and adapting to
stressors such as climate change, extreme natural events, pollution,
invasive species, and resource use.
Humans are integral to ecosystems, and the human dimensions of
ecosystems are an integral focus of the science NCCOS conducts and
conveys. NOAA's Strategic Plan (FY2006-FY2011) (available at: http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/pdfs/
[fxsp0]STRATEGIC%20PLAN/Strategic--[fxsp0]Plan--
2006--[fxsp0]FINAL--04282005.pdf) defines an ecosystem as a
geographically specified system of organisms, including humans, the
environment, and the processes that control its dynamics. An
environment encompasses the biological, chemical, physical, and social
conditions that surround organisms. The human dimensions of ecosystems
can be expressed in terms of three points of interaction between
environmental and human systems: human causes, consequences, and
responses to environmental change. Encompassing a broad array of social
science, humanities, and other disciplines, human dimensions research
aims to understand these human-environmental interactions and
facilitate use of this understanding to assist decisions affecting
environmental processes and their societal outcomes.
NCCOS developed a Draft Human Dimensions Strategic Plan (FY2008-
2013) to define and implement human dimensions research critical to
support an ecosystem approach to the management of coastal and ocean
resources. The plan expands a Societal Stressors Objective in NCCOS's
Strategic Plan (http://coastalscience.noaa.gov/documents/strategicplan.pdf
). The final Human Dimensions Strategic Plan will
guide development of the NCCOS ecosystem science agenda, workforce,
organization, partnerships, and other capacities, including research
conducted through extramural partners, grants, and contracts. Planning,
programming, budgeting, and execution of NCCOS activities will reflect
the objectives of the final plan through FY 2013.
The draft plan puts forth the following human dimensions research
goals and objectives. First, to provide human dimensions information
essential to support an ecosystem approach to coastal and ocean
resource management (Goal 1), the plan recommends identifying and
characterizing stakeholders and their values (Objective 1.1),
monitoring human dimensions (Objective 1.2), assessing and monitoring
human causes of ecosystem stress (Objective 1.3), documenting
traditional and local ecological knowledge (Objective 1.4), addressing
value and ethical dimensions (Objective 1.5), and developing
institutional strategies (Objective 1.6). Second, to provide integrated
ecosystem information essential to support an ecosystem approach to
coastal and ocean resource management, the plan recommends developing
and operationalizing integrative information products and tools
(Objective 2.1) and defining and implementing integrated ecosystem
assessments (Objective 2.2). Third, to promote resilient ecosystems
(Goal 3), the plan recommends assessing the cumulative impacts of
hazards on coastal communities (Objective 3.1), assessing risk and
vulnerability (Objective 3.2), developing risk communication strategies
(Objective 3.3), and evaluating forecasting and other capabilities
(Objective 3.4). Finally, to provide critical support (Goal 4), the
plan recommends building essential organizational capacities (Objective
4.1) and developing communications, outreach, and educational
strategies (Objective 4.2).
The purpose of this notice is to solicit comments on the Draft
Human Dimensions Strategic Plan (FY2008-2013) to ensure the value of
the final document for coastal and ocean resource science and
governance. NCCOS encourages Federal and non-Federal Government
partners, resource managers, other decision makers, stakeholders, and
other interested parties to submit comments. We especially encourage
comments related to the value of the plan to support an ecosystem
approach to the management of coastal and ocean resources, and its
collaborative implementation.
To facilitate efficient and thorough consideration of all
submissions, please format your comments as follows: (1) Background
information on yourself, including name, title, organizational
affiliation, and contact information including email address; (2)
general comments; and (3) specific comments with references to line
numbers. Please follow all substantive, non-editorial comments with
well-developed suggestions for revision. Please including identifying
information at the top of all pages. The Draft NCCOS Human Dimensions
Strategic Plan (FY2008-2013) is being issued for comment only and is
not intended for interim use.
Dated: February 8, 2007.
Gary C. Matlock,
Director, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
[FR Doc. 07-690 Filed 2-14-07; 8:45 am]
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